Turntable and the like



Aug. 12 1924. 1,504,558-

J. B. HAWLEY, JR

TURNTABLE AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 12. 1923 Inventor:

Patented Aug. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES .JOI IN B. HAWLEY, JR., OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

TURNTABLE AND THE LIKE.

Application filed. February 12, 1923. Serial N... 618,447.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. l-IAwLnY, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of El 5 Paso and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turntables and. the like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has to do with improvements in turn-tables. The invention has reference particularly to; certain improvements in turn-tables for turning relatively light vehicles, such as. automobiles, trucks, tractors, etc.. Nevertheless, it will appear that the features of the invention are not limited to this particular or to any other particular class of service;

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a turn-table of small size and compact form which can be conveniently used in connection with garages and storage places for vehicles in comparatively small spaces.

Another object of the: invention is to provide a turn-table construction which is relatively light and cheap to build and install.

Another object of the invention is to provide a turn-table arrangement such that it may be operated by the vehicle itself to perform the turning operation without the use or special provision of any outside source of power or turning medium. In this connection a further oloj cot is to apply the turning force by the use of the power plant of the vehicle operating through the medium of its usual transmission and differential mechanisms.

A further object of the invention is to make provision for the automatic restora tion of the turn-table to its initial position after it has been used during the turning operation, so that it will then be ready for another turning operation. in. the regular course of use.

Other bjects and usesof the invention will appear from a detailed description of the same. which consists in the features of construction and combinations of partsher'einafter described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 shows a plan. view of a turntable embodying the features of the present invention, together with a suitable approach thereto from the road way. .In this figure the normal position of the turntable is shown by full lines and the turned position by means of dotted lines;

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, on enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 shows a fragmentary section on the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 44: of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

The turn-table of the present invention includes a relatively small platform which is mounted to travel in a curved, and preferably a circular path, being preferably located upon a track way of the proper curvature. Furthermore, this relatively small platform is preferably radially connected to a central pivotal point so that-it will travel in a true circle around the pivotal point as a center.

It is intended that the front wheels of the vehicle should be carried by this plat form, and that one of the rear wheels should be held stationary substantially at the pivotal point, the other rear wheel traveling in a circular path about the pivotal point dun ing the turning operation. For this purpose any suitable power may be used, but by applying the power of the vehicle itself with the transmission mechanism thrown into the reverse, a pull will be exerted causing the platform to travel around its circular path thereby turning the vehicle.

In the particular construction shown in the drawing, I have illustrated a platform 5, preferably of concrete or other suit-able floor material in the central portion of which there is a hub pedestal 6. Upon this pedestal is pivotally mounted a central hub member 7, a pivot point 8 of suitable arrangement, such as a king pin being providedfor the member 7 It is also preferred that the hub member 7 be provided with suitable rollers 9 working on the pedestal 6 so as to allow easy rotation.

Partially encircling the hub member 7 is a curved track 10. A platform 11 is mounted to" travel on this track, as by means of flanged wheels 12. The platform 11 is also preferably guided by means of one or more radial arms 13 connecting it to the hub member 7. These arms will not only serve to assist in guiding the platform 11 during its travel, but will also assist in preventing any lateral displacement of the .in harmony with the platform movements.

It is intended that a vehicle to be turned should be driven with its front wheels 1a onto the platform 11, and with one of its rear wheels 15 upon the hub member 7. The other rear wheel 16 is intended to travel on the platform 5, which for this purpose should be relatively smooth and of a material which will give adequate traction.

Upon locking the wheel 15 against rotation and applying power to the wheel 16 in reverse, a turning effort will be exerted causing the vehicle to travel backwardly around the wheel 15 as a center, as shown by the dotted lines 17 of Fig. 1. This will cause a lateral displacement of the platform 11 around the trackway 10 until the platform reaches an end stop 18 located at a point corresponding to the terminationof the turn movement. r

The vehicle in reaching the initial posied forlocking the rear wheel 15 against rotation' during the turning movement. A convenient arrangement is that illustrated, in which the hub member 7 is provided with a central cup shaped depression 22 into which the wheel 15 may be driven and where it Will be held with suflicient firmness to ordinarily perform the turning operation.

' Also in order to facilitate driving the wheel 15 into place within the cup 22, the peripheral portions of the pedestal and of the hub member 7 may be beveled or given a slant, as'illustrated in Fig. 2.

After the turning operation has been completed, the platform 11 should return automatically to its initial position as lim ited by an end stop 23. For this purpose, I have illustrated a spring 24 within a pocket 25 in the lower portion of the hub member, which spring will be placed under tension as the platform travels towards the end stop 18, and will exert a suflicient pull to restore the platform to the end stop 23 after the vehicle has been driven away.

It will be observed that the vehicle is driven in along one line of travel and afterwards leaves along another line of travel .widened at a which is laterally displaced a distance substantially equal to the distance between the wheels of the vehicle itself. I have, therefore, illustrated an approach 26 which is point adjacent to the turn table sufficiently to enablethe vehicle to be driven in and out without diflieulty notwithstanding this lateral displacement during the turning operation.

While I have herein shown and described only certain embodiments of the features of my present invention, still I do not limit myself to the same except as I may do so in the claims.

, I claim:

1. In a turn-table, the combination of a central wheel support pivoted for rotation about a central axis, a circular trackway extending around said wheel support as an axis, a platform journaled upon said track, a radial connection from the central wheel support to the platform, an end stop at each end of said track, a spring for operatin on the wheel support to turn the same and restore the platform to its initial position against one of said stops, a suitable approach adjacent to the other stop, and a floor between the central wheel support and the track, whereby when the front wheels of a vehicle are carried by the platform one of the rear wheelsmay be carried by the wheel support and the other rear wheel may travel on the floor, substantially as described.

2. In a turn-table, the combination of a central wheel support pivoted for rotation about a central axis, a circular trackway extending around said wheel support as an axis, a platform j ournaled upon said track, a radial connection from the central wheel support to the platform, an end stop at each end of said track, means for returning the platform to its initial position against one of said stops, at suitable approach adjacent to the other stop, and a floor between the central wheel support and the track, whereby when the front wheels of a vehicle are carried by the platform one of the rear wheels may be carried by the wheel support and the other rear wheel may travel on the floor, substantially as described.

3. In a turn-table, the combination of a central wheel support pivoted for rotation about a central axis, a circular trackway extending around said wheel support as an axis, a platform journaled upon said track, a radial connection from the central wheel support to the platform, a suitable approach adjacent to one end of the track, and a floor between the central wheel support and the track, whereby when the front wheels of the vehicle are carried by the platform one of the rear wheels may be carried by the wheel support and the other rear wheel may travel on the floor, substantially as described.

4. In a turn-table the combination of a central wheel support pivoted for rotation about a central axis, a traveling platform, a radial connection from the central Wheel support to the platform, to compel the platform to travel in a circular path about the central wheel support, a suitable approach adjacent to the wheel support and platform, and a floor adjacent to the central wheel support, whereby when the front wheels of the vehicle are carried by the platform one of the rear wheels may be carried by the wheel support and the other rear wheel may travel on the floor, substantially as described.

5. In a turn-table, the combination of a central wheel support pivoted for rotation about a central axis, a traveling platform, means for causing the platform to travel in a circular path around said central wheel support as an axis, means tending to restore the platform to the initial position, and a floor between the central wheel support and the path of travel of the platform, whereby when the front wheels of the vehicle are carried by the platform, one of the rear wheels may be carried by the wheel support and the other rear wheel may travel on the floor, substantially as described.

JOHN B. HAWLEY, JR. 

